Garda Síochána Act 2005
Number 20 of 2005
GARDA SÍOCHÁNA ACT 2005
REVISED
Updated to 2 September 2023
This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under the Law Reform Commission Act 1975 (3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation of statute law.
All Acts up to and including the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2023 (25/2023), enacted 20 July 2023, and all statutory instruments up to and including the Employment Permits (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 439 of 2023), made 4 September 2023, were considered in the preparation of this Revised Act.
Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act, the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees, undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email to
revisedacts@lawreform.ie.
Number 20 of 2005
GARDA SÍOCHÁNA ACT 2005
REVISED
Updated to 2 September 2023
Introduction
This Revised Act presents the text of the Act as it has been amended since enactment, and preserves the format in which it was passed.
Related legislation
Garda Síochána Acts 2005 to 2022: this Act is one of a group of Acts included in this collective citation, to be construed together as one (Garda Síochána (Compensation) Act 2022 (33/2022), s. 1(4)). The Acts in this group are:
• Garda Síochána Act 2005 (20/2005)
• Criminal Justice Act 2007 (29/2007), ss. 41-43
• Garda Síochána (Amendment) Act 2015 (3/2015), other than ss. 12 and 13
• Garda Síochána (Policing Authority and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015 (49/2015)
• Garda Síochána (Amendment) Act 2022 (10/2022)
• Garda Síochána (Compensation) Act 2022 (33/2022), ss. 33 and 34
Annotations
This Revised Act is annotated and includes textual and non-textual amendments, statutory instruments made pursuant to the Act and previous affecting provisions.
An explanation of how to read annotations is available at
www.lawreform.ie/annotations.
Material not updated in this revision
Where other legislation is amended by this Act, those amendments may have been superseded by other amendments in other legislation, or the amended legislation may have been repealed or revoked. This information is not represented in this revision but will be reflected in a revision of the amended legislation if one is available.
Where legislation or a fragment of legislation is referred to in annotations, changes to this legislation or fragment may not be reflected in this revision but will be reflected in a revision of the legislation referred to if one is available.
A list of legislative changes to any Act, and to statutory instruments from 1972, may be found linked from the page of the Act or statutory instrument at
www.irishstatutebook.ie.
Acts which affect or previously affected this revision
• Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (24/2023)
• Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (9/2023)
• Garda Síochána (Compensation) Act 2022 (33/2022)
• Garda Síochána (Amendment) Act 2022 (10/2022)
• Garda Síochána (Functions and Operational Areas) Act 2022 (7/2022)
• Coroners (Amendment) Act 2019 (29/2019)
• Criminal Justice (International Co-Operation) Act 2019 (27/2019)
• Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Act 2016 (4/2016)
• Garda Síochána (Policing Authority and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015 (49/2015)
• Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) (Amendment) Act 2015 (40/2015)
• Garda Síochána (Amendment) Act 2015 (3/2015)
• Freedom of Information Act 2014 (30/2014)
• Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 (25/2014)
• Court of Appeal Act 2014 (18/2014)
• Protected Disclosures Act 2014 (14/2014)
• National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 (47/2012)
• Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 (24/2010)
• Fines Act 2010 (8/2010)
• Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009 (19/2009)
• Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008 (14/2008)
• Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008 (7/2008)
• Criminal Justice Act 2007 (29/2007)
All Acts up to and including Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2023 (25/2023), enacted 20 July 2023, were considered in the preparation of this revision.
Statutory instruments which affect or previously affected this revision
• Garda Síochána (Retirement) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 397 of 2023)
• Garda Síochána Act 2005 (Section 42) (Special Inquiry relating to the Garda Síochána) (No. 2) (Amendment) Order 2022 (S.I. No. 11 of 2022)
Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (S.I. No. 757 of 2021)
Garda Síochána (Associations) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021 (S.I. No. 603 of 2021)
• Garda Síochána (Associations) (Superintendents and Chief Superintendents) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (S.I. No. 483 of 2021)
• Garda Síochána (Appointment to the Ranks of Inspector and Sergeant) Regulations 2021 (S.I. No. 370 of 2021)
• Garda Síochána (Associations) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (S.I. No. 275 of 2021)
• Justice (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2021 (S.I. No. 252 of 2021)
• Garda Síochána (Associations) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 605 of 2020)
• Garda Síochána (Reserve Members) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 603 of 2020)
• Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 602 of 2020)
• Garda Síochána (Ranks) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 287 of 2020)
• Garda Síochána (Specified Ranks) (Severance Programme) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 668 of 2019)
• Garda Síochána (Associations) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 657 of 2018)
• Garda Síochána Act 2005 (Retirement) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 28 of 2018)
• Garda Síochána Act 2005 (Section 42) (Special Inquiry relating to the Garda Síochána) (No. 5) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 200 of 2017)
• Garda Síochána Act 2005 (Section 42) (Special Inquiry relating to the Garda Síochána) (No. 4) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 199 of 2017)
• Garda Síochána Act 2005 (Section 42) (Special Inquiry relating to the Garda Síochána) (No. 3) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 198 of 2017)
• Garda Síochána Act 2005 (Section 42) (Special Inquiry relating to the Garda Síochána) (No. 2) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 197 of 2017)
• Garda Síochána Act 2005 (Section 42) (Special Inquiry relating to the Garda Síochána) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 196 of 2017)
• Garda Síochána (Promotion) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 (S.I. No. 642 of 2016)
• Garda Síochána Act 2005 (Appointments to the ranks of Assistant Garda Commissioner, chief superintendent and superintendent) Regulations 2016 (S.I. No. 641 of 2016)
• Garda Síochána Act 2005 (Section 52) Regulations 2016 (S.I. No. 640 of 2016)
• Garda Síochána (Discipline) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 (S.I. No. 639 of 2016)
• Policing Authority (Establishment Day) Order 2015 (S.I. No. 611 of 2015)
• Garda Síochána (Discipline) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (S.I. No. 503 of 2015)
• Garda Síochána (Promotion) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (S.I. No. 334 of 2015)
• Garda Síochána Act 2005 (Commencement) Order 2015 (S.I. No. 271 of 2015)
• Garda Síochána (Promotion) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 331 of 2014)
• Garda Síochána Act 2005 (Section 42) (Special Inquiries relating to Garda Síochána) Order 2013 (S.I. No. 481 of 2013)
• Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 470 of 2013)
• Garda Síochána (Retirement) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 260 of 2013)
• Garda Síochána Act 2005 (Section 52) Regulations 2012 (S.I. No. 128 of 2012)
• Garda Síochána Act 2005 (Police Service of Northern Ireland Appointments) Regulations 2012 (S.I. No. 127 of 2012)
• Garda Síochána (Discipline) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 620 of 2011)
• Garda Síochána (Associations) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 619 of 2011)
• Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 418 of 2011)
• Garda Síochána (Ranks) (No. 2) Regulations 2009 (S.I. No. 390 of 2009)
• Garda Síochána (Retirement) Regulations 2009 (S.I. No. 205 of 2009)
• Garda Síochána (Ranks) Regulations 2009 (S.I. No. 53 of 2009)
• Garda Síochána (Ranks) Regulations 2008 (S.I. No. 192 of 2008)
• Garda Síochána (Retirement) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 771 of 2007)
• Garda Síochána Act 2005 (Commencement) (No. 3) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 217 of 2007)
• Garda Síochána Act 2005 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 216 of 2007)
• Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 214 of 2007)
• Garda Síochána (Confidential Reporting of Corruption Or Malpractice) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 168 of 2007)
• Garda Síochána (Ranks) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 28 of 2007)
• Garda Síochána Act 2005 (Commencement) (Section 8) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 16 of 2007)
• Garda Síochána (Retirement) (No. 2) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 686 of 2006)
• Garda Síochána (Retirement) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 680 of 2006)
• Garda Síochána Act 2005 (Section 19(5)) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 620 of 2006)
• Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 509 of 2006)
• Garda Síochána (Promotion) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 485 of 2006)
• Garda Síochána (Reserve Members) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 413 of 2006)
• Garda Síochána Inspectorate (Establishment Day) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 401 of 2006)
• Garda Síochána Act 2005 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 377 of 2006)
• Garda Síochána (CCTV) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 289 of 2006)
• Garda Síochána (Ranks) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 286 of 2006)
• Garda Síochána Act 2005 (Commencement) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 129 of 2006)
• Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (Establishment Day) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 802 of 2005)
• Garda Síochána Act 2005 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 801 of 2005)
• Garda Síochána Act 2005 (Commencement) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 370 of 2005)
All statutory instruments up to and including Employment Permits (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 439 of 2023), made 4 September 2023, were considered in the preparation of this revision.
Number 20 of 2005
GARDA SÍOCHÁNA ACT 2005
REVISED
Updated to 2 September 2023
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Preliminary Matters
Section
Garda Síochána
General
6. Continuation of Garda Síochána.
7. Function of Garda Síochána.
8. Prosecution of offences by members of Garda Síochána.
Personnel and Organisation
9. Appointment of Garda Commissioner.
10. Appointment of Deputy and Assistant Garda Commissioners.
12. Steps to be taken before removal of office holder.
13. Appointment of members to other ranks.
13A. Steps to be taken before removal from office by Authority of members of certain ranks.
14. Appointment of members to other ranks and summary dismissal of such members.
18. Representative associations.
Roles of Minister and Garda Commissioner
20. Setting of priorities by Minister.
20A. Setting of priorities by Minister for security services.
24. Professional Standards Unit.
26. Functions of Garda Commissioner.
27. Arrangements for obtaining views of public.
28. Power to enter into agreements with other law enforcement agencies.
28A. Power to enter into agreements with relevant persons or bodies outside the State.
29. Powers relating to contracts, bank accounts, etc.
30. Provision of police services for certain events, etc.
31. Delegation of Garda Commissioner’s functions.
32. Exercise of functions in Garda Commissioner’s absence.
33. Distribution of Garda Síochána.
Chapter 3A (Repealed)
Establishment and functions of Garda Síochána Executive Management Board
33A. Establishment day.(Repealed)
33B. Establishment of Garda Síochána Executive Management Board. (Repealed)
33C. Establishment of Garda Síochána Executive Management Board. (Repealed)
33D. Appointment, etc., of non-executive members. (Repealed)
33E. Function of Board. (Repealed)
33F. Provision of information to non-executive members by Garda Commissioner. (repealed)
33G. Reports to Minister. (Repealed)
33H. Saving. (Repealed)
Co-operation with Local Authorities and Security in Public Places
35. Guidelines concerning joint policing committees.
36. Establishment and functions of joint policing committees.
37. Duty of local authorities.
38. Security in public places.
Accountability of Members for discharge of official duties and duty of Garda Commissioner to account to the Government, etc.
39. Duty of members of Garda Síochána to account.
40. Duty of Garda Commissioner to account to Government and provide material to Attorney General.
41. Duty of Garda Commissioner to provide information to Minister.
41A. Duty of Garda Commissioner to provide information to Authority.
42. Special inquiries relating to administration, practice or procedure of Garda Síochána.
Accountability
43. Accountability for accounts of Garda Síochána.
44. Audit committee: appointment of members, etc.
45. Functions of audit committee.
Liability
48. Liability for certain acts of members of Garda Síochána.
49. Legal aid for members charged with certain offences.
International Service and Co-operation with other Police Services
50. Interpretation (Chapter 8).
52. Appointment of members of Police Service of Northern Ireland to certain ranks in Garda Síochána.
53. Secondment from Police Service of Northern Ireland to certain ranks in Garda Síochána.
54. Secondment from Garda Síochána to Police Service of Northern Ireland.
55. Breach of discipline by seconded member of Garda Síochána.
56. Breach of discipline by seconded member of Police Service of Northern Ireland.
57. Records relating to members serving outside the State.
58. Duties of Ard-Chláraitheoir in relation to records transmitted under this Act.
Offences and Disclosure of Information
60. Offence of impersonating member of Garda Síochána.
61. Other offences relating to impersonation.
62. Confidentiality of certain information.
Establishment and Functions of Policing Authority
62A. Establishment day of Authority.
62B. Establishment of Authority.
62D. Recommendations for appointment of ordinary members of Authority.
62E. Terms and conditions of appointment of members of Authority.
62G. Removal of member of Authority.
62I. Authority to have regard to security services.
62L. Power to appoint consultants and advisers and to enter into contracts.
62M. Confidentiality of certain information.
62N. Strategy statement of Authority.
62R. Accountability for accounts of Authority.
62S. Accountability of Authority to other Oireachtas Committees.
Establishment and Functions of Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission
64. Establishment of Ombudsman Commission.
65. Membership of Ombudsman Commission.
66. Terms and conditions of office.
67. Objectives, functions and powers.
68. Resignation or removal of members in certain cases.
69. Seal of Ombudsman Commission.
70. Meetings and business of Ombudsman Commission.
71. Officers of Ombudsman Commission.
72. Transfer of staff to Ombudsman Commission.
73. Designation of officers and others for purpose of investigations under Part 4.
75. Delegation of Ombudsman Commission’s functions.
76. Grants to Ombudsman Commission.
78. Accountability of Ombudsman Commission to Committee of Public Accounts.
79. Accountability to other Oireachtas committees.
80. Various reports by Ombudsman Commission.
81. Confidentiality of information obtained by Ombudsman Commission.
Complaints, Investigations and other Procedures
83. How complaints are made by members of the public.
84. Time limits for making complaints.
85. If complaint is made to Garda Síochána.
86. If complaint is made directly to Ombudsman Commission.
87. Determination of whether complaint is admissible.
88. Notification following determination of whether complaint is admissible.
89. Duty to preserve evidence relating to complaint.
90. Resolution of complaint by mediation or other informal means.
91. Investigation of complaints concerning death of, or serious harm to, a person.
92. If other complaints are not resolved informally or if they warrant investigation.
93. Power to discontinue investigation.
94. If complaint is referred to Garda Commissioner.
95. Investigation by Ombudsman Commission of complaints that do not appear to involve offences.
96. Powers relating to investigation under section 95.
97. Report following investigation under section 94 or 95.
99. Search of Garda Síochána station.
100. Designated judge to oversee operation of certain provisions.
101. Report following investigation under section 98.
102. Other investigations by Ombudsman Commission.
102A. Protected disclosures relating to the Garda Síochána.
102B. Investigation of matters relating to Garda Commissioner by Ombudsman Commission.
103. Duty to keep certain persons informed.
103A. Provision of information to Ombudsman Commission.
104. Extension of time limit for instituting summary proceedings for offences.
105. Same conduct may form basis for complaint or charge.
106. Examination of certain practices, policies and procedures of Garda Síochána.
107. Duties and powers relating to examination of practices, policies and procedures.
109. Judicial inquiry into conduct of designated officers of Ombudsman Commission.
110. Offence of providing false or misleading information.
111. Transitional provision relating to complaints under Garda Síochána (Complaints) Act 1986.
112. Qualified privilege for certain statements and publications.
Establishment and Functions of Garda Síochána Inspectorate
114. Establishment of Garda Síochána Inspectorate.
115. Membership of Inspectorate.
116. Terms and conditions of office.
117A. Recommendations in Inspectorate report.
118. Co-operation with Inspectorate.
119. Provision of services to Inspectorate.
120. Accountability to Oireachtas committees.
Regulations and Miscellaneous Provisions
121. General power to make regulations.
122. Regulations relating to management of Garda Síochána.
123. Disciplinary regulations.
124. Regulations relating to reporting corruption and malpractice in the Garda Síochána. (repealed)
125. Regulations relating to police co-operation under sections 52 to 56.
126. Regulations relating to matters concerning security of State.
127. Reward Fund and related regulations.
127A. Regulations relating to fees for provision of vetting services.
128. Continuation of certain regulations and orders.
130. Proof of membership or rank in Garda Síochána.
131. Exercise of special powers by security officers.
132. Amendment of Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993.
Repeals
Terms and Conditions of Transferred Staff
Agreement between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on Police Co-Operation, done at Belfast on 29 April 2002
Appointment to Ombudsman Commission of Person Holding Judicial Office
Breach of Discipline
Acts Referred to
|
Births and Deaths Registration Act (Ireland) 1880 |
43 & 44 Vict., c. 13 |
|
2004, No. 3 |
|
|
1956, No. 45 |
|
|
Civil Service Regulation Acts 1956 to 1996 |
|
|
2004, No. 23 |
|
|
1993, No. 8 |
|
|
Comptroller and Auditor General Acts 1866 to 1998 |
|
|
1997, No. 43 |
|
|
1961, No. 39 |
|
|
1984, No. 22 |
|
|
1962, No. 12 |
|
|
1997, No. 14 |
|
|
1924, No. 31 |
|
|
1997, No. 2 |
|
|
Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1866 |
29 & 30 Vict., c. 39 |
|
1997, No. 13 |
|
|
1924, No. 25 |
|
|
1972, No. 2 |
|
|
1977, No. 24 |
|
|
1989, No. 1 |
|
|
Garda Síochána Compensation Acts 1941 and 1945 |
|
|
1986, No. 29 |
|
|
1933, No. 32 |
|
|
2003, No. 19 |
|
|
Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages (Regulation) Act 1993 |
1993, No. 10 |
|
1975, No. 3 |
|
|
2001, No. 37 |
|
|
1956, No. 21 |
|
|
Offences against the State Acts 1939 to 1998 |
|
|
1963, No. 1 |
|
|
Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851 |
14 & 15 Vict., c. 93 |
|
1925, No. 7 |
|
|
1983, No. 24 |
|
|
1974, No. 22 |
|
|
Public Offices Fees Act 1879 |
42 & 43 Vict., c. 58 |
|
Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Acts 1921 to 2002 |
Number 20 of 2005
GARDA SÍOCHÁNA ACT 2005
REVISED
Updated to 2 September 2023
AN ACT TO MAKE FURTHER AND BETTER PROVISION IN RELATION TO THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA AND, IN PARTICULAR, TO CONSOLIDATE WITH AMENDMENTS CERTAIN ENACTMENTS RELATING TO THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA, TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BODY TO BE KNOWN AS COIMISIÚN OMBUDSMAN AN GHARDA SÍOCHÁNA OR, IN ENGLISH, THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA OMBUDSMAN COMMISSION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ENSURING OPENNESS, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE PROCESS BY WHICH COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA ARE INVESTIGATED AND ALSO FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BODY TO BE KNOWN AS CIGIREACHT AN GHARDA SÍOCHÁNA OR, IN ENGLISH, THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA INSPECTORATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACHIEVING AND MAINTAINING THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS IN THE OPERATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA, AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
[10th July, 2005]
BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:
Annotations
Modifications (not altering text):
C1
Functions transferred and references to “Department of Finance” and “Minister for Finance” construed (29.07.2011) by Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 418 of 2011), arts. 2, 3, 5 and sch. 1 part 2, in effect as per art. 1(2), subject to transitional provisions in arts. 6-9.
2. (1) The administration and business in connection with the performance of any functions transferred by this Order are transferred to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
(2) References to the Department of Finance contained in any Act or instrument made thereunder and relating to the administration and business transferred by paragraph (1) shall, on and after the commencement of this Order, be construed as references to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
3. The functions conferred on the Minister for Finance by or under the provisions of —
(a) the enactments specified in Schedule 1, and
(b) the statutory instruments specified in Schedule 2,
are transferred to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
...
5. References to the Minister for Finance contained in any Act or instrument under an Act and relating to any functions transferred by this Order shall, from the commencement of this Order, be construed as references to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
...
Schedule 1
Enactments
...
Part 2
1922 to 2011 Enactments
|
Number and Year |
Short Title |
Provision |
|
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
|
... |
... |
... |
|
No. 20 of 2005 |
Garda Síochána Act 2005 |
Sections 17(3)(b), 29, 44(5), 71, 76, 77, 119 and 127(2) |
|
... |
... |
... |
Editorial Notes:
E1
Garda Síochána excluded from definition of public bodies in Freedom of Information Act 2014 (30/2014) in so far as it relates to administrative records relating to human resources, or finance or procurement matters (14.10.2014) by Freedom of Information Act 2014 (30/2014), s. 6 and sch. 1 part 1(n), commenced as per s. 1(2).